James m



(No Model.)

,J. M. TAYLOR. DUSTLESS REMOVABLE BLAGKBOARD TROUGH.

Patented June 4 AT-BENT. 'FFICE.

JAMES M. TAYLOR, HAMILTON, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF Ti) CHARLES H.THURBER, OF SAME PLACE.

DUSTLESS REMOVABLE BLACKBO ARD-TROUGH.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent NO. 540,368, dated June 4.,1895.

Application filed January 17, 1894:. $erial No. 497,125. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES M. TAYLOR, a citizen of the United States,residing at Hamilton, in the county of Madison and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dustless RemovableBlackboard-Troughs, of which the following is so full, clear, and exacta description as will enable those skilled inthe art to which myinvention appertains to make and use the same, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, in which 7 Figure 1 is aperspective view ofthe invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section of the same.

The object of the invention is to provide a blackboard with a troughbythe use of which the accumulations of dust and powdered chalk in thebottom of the trough will not have the effect of soiling the crayons anderaser, as heretofore. Another object of the invention is to providemeans whereby the chalk may be collected in a receptacle by itselfentirely dis:

tinct and separate from the crayons and eraser.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for removing thechalk which falls from the board without scattering it about the schoolroom.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for the receptionand accommodation of the chalk which falls from the board end of thecrayons and of the erasers in such a manner as to keep the crayons anderasers away from the chalk.

In the accompanying drawings, A designates the blackboard proper whichmay be supported by a suitable frame B, which may be supported in turnon a table or stand, or which may be secured to the wall of the room.

' Below and in front of the board A are two engage automatically with aprojection H on the bottom of the trough. The locking catch is providedwith a suitable spring I and the projecting thumb piece J, fordisengaging it when it is desired to remove the trough. At one end oftrough a section of the bottom is removed and a cover K is provided forthis opening. In the drawings is shown a sliding cover for this purpose.It is obvious how over, that this cover might be dispensed with withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention, and the trough could beturned bottom side up and with a rap or two, the powdered chalk wouldfall out through the grating.

The exact form of locking catch need not be used as any suitable lockingdevice for this purpose would do the work with equal facility. Themolding L at the bottom of the blackboard is slightly beveled so thatthe powdered chalk fallingfrom the board willstrike this oblique surfaceand roll off away from the board and down into the trough.

In practice the trough is made of wood and is provided with a solidbottom havinga perforated wire cloth top but it should be distinctlyunderstood that the material of which the trough is made and the shapeof the trough may be varied at will without depart- 8o ing from thespirit of the invention. It will also be understood that other materialbe sides wire netting or cloth may be used for the perforated topwithout departing from the spirit of the invention and without in anyway interfering with its usefulness.

The advantages of the device are as follows:

First. The chalk dust from the board or eraser falls through the upperwire bottom and is held in the trough below it, so that it cannot bereached by crayon or eraser.

Second. The crayons, erasers, 850., placed on the wire bottom are keptfrom all the dust in the trough, rest always on aperfectly clean surfaceand are consequently clean when 5 picked up for use.

Third. The erasers can be cleaned by'rapping the rubbed surface on thewire bottom. In either case the dust falls in the trough below.

Fourth. The trough can be easily removed and cleaned by tipping it up onend and emp- IOO tying the dust through the opening in the bottom. Thisopening is shut with a slide.

, sanitary advantages.

The main feature of the invention is the provision of a trough having animperforate bottom and what will be termed in this application, aperforated top cover without regard to various equivalents forms andmaterials which might be substituted for what is shown, withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention, and while the device asshown and described is applicable to blackboards, the right is reservedto use the invention in any other proper and advantageous connection orwith any other form of device where the use of such trough maybeadvantageous.

The trough as shown, is adapted for use with ordinary blackboards now inuse, re-

quiring but little labor and alteration to .put the trough in operativeposition.

The end pieces B, 13', project out in front of the blackboard asufficient distance to confine or limit the sweep of the eraser and theyalso serve to hold the trough against lateral displacement.

I claim 1. A blackboard with an oblique molding at the bottom; incombination with two brackets 0,0, and a removable trough, adapted tofit between the upper ends of the brackets and the lower edge of theoblique molding and a spring catch beneath the trough, substantially asdescribed whereby the trough may be removed and replaced instantly,substantially as described.

2. A blackboard provided with an oblique molding extending along abovethe upper edge of the trough and end pieces projecting in front of theline of the blackboard and shelves 0,0, adapted to support the trough;in combination with a removable trough having a closed bottom and aperforated top, rigidly secured to the trough beneath the edge of thetrough, and suitable moldings F,'forming a guard all around the upperportion of the trough, and a spring locking device secured to the mainstructure, and aprojection on the bottom of the trough, adapted toengage with the spring catch, substantially as described and for thepurposes specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

JAMES M. TAYLOR. Witnesses:

B. J. STIMsoN, B. F. CASE.

